UX Research Freelance Project Proposal - Template & Examples

The most important business document you need to land clients as a UX research freelancer/consultant is a solid and compelling project proposal that makes it clear you're the one they should work with.

You've already got the skills needed to deliver high quality research studies for product design and development (that's the hard part!). Being new to the business side of things as you venture into the world of freelancing or consulting, you may be wondering, what does a successful project proposal look like, and what kind of information should be in it?

It's not as complicated as you might think!

A proposal doesn't need to be fancy, but it does need to clearly and succinctly outline exactly how you're going to help your client be successful. After you meet with your prospective client to learn about their business goals, customers, project scope, and timeline, all you need to do is reflect that information back to them so it's obvious that you're the right pick for their research partner.

As a self-employed UX research consultant for five years, I used this exact template to successfully land 5-figure projects with numerous companies including Lowe's, Dexcom, Vetsource, Hill's, Crowdstreet, Fujitsu, The City of Portland, and others.

What do I get?

• A professional and customizable UX research project proposal template with step-by-step instructions on exactly what to include in each section. Proposal sections include Project Background and Objectives, Research Approach, Project Activities, Project Schedule, Investment (Cost), Payment Terms, and Consultant Bio.
• 2 examples of REAL qualitative UX research project proposals from my consulting work, with all of the original proposal details except the company name, to show you exactly how I designed my bid-winning proposals.
• A curated list of top resources (articles, podcasts, books, etc.) on the topics of running a freelance/consulting business and pricing your services.
• After purchase, you will receive a link to download these files from Google Docs.

About the creator

Amy Santee is a Career Strategist and Coach for UX professionals who want to design their careers with intention and bring their good to the world. As a personal growth and career development nerd, she has partnered with hundreds of individuals to implement a practice of self-research, self-advocacy, and strategy, so they have the tools to navigate the professional world with courage and confidence. She is a writer, speaker, and co-host of the podcast What is Wrong with Hiring.

Prior to coaching, Amy built a career as a UX researcher for product development and strategy in a range of industries including healthcare, automotive, retail, consumer tech, ecommerce, and civic design. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn or learn more at amysantee.com.